Ashraful likely ensnared by beast of gambling: Ex Bangladesh coach

Wellington: Former Bangladesh cricket coach Jamie Siddons says ex-captain Mohammad Ashraful shouldn’t be judged too harshly for his involvement in match-fixing because he was likely ensnared by the “powerful beast of underworld gambling” at an early age.

Siddons, who now coaches New Zealand’s Wellington province, told the Dominion-Post newspaper he alerted the Bangladesh Cricket Board and International Cricket Council to the threat of spot fixing during his four-year term as Bangladesh coach from 2007 to 2011.

Ashraful admitted to match- and spot-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League after being suspended by the BCB on Tuesday. He is being investigated by the ICC.

The Australian-born Siddons said he wasn’t surprised to hear of Ashraful’s involvement, saying “it’s disappointing but I don’t think it’s surprising. It’s a powerful beast the underworld gambling.”

Associated Press